Sam Clucas admits he has surprised himself with how well he’s played since his recent comeback from the longest lay off in his career.

Clucas has started Stoke’s last five games - after nearly six months out following knee surgery - and he completed his first 90 minutes at Villa Park last weekend.

“I’ve been out for that long I thought it would take me a month, or two months, to get full fitness and be able to play 90 minutes,” he says.

“But I’ve been surprised with how well I’ve been able to come back and that’s a big positive - and a big thank you to the staff because they’ve been putting me through my paces week-in, week-out while I’ve been injured.

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“I’ve probably had a moan now and again for doing too much running, but it all pays off in the long run and I’m grateful for all their help.

“It’s nice to be back out on the pitch and hopefully I can do that for the rest of the season now.”

Clucas, who can expect to start again against Millwall at the bet365 on Saturday (3pm), confesses he was embarrassed to be injured and having to receive treatment from the very moment he signed from Swansea in August.

“I had a very dark time with the injury, it’s the first time I’ve been out for a long time.

The only way is up... Sam Clucas points the way after scoring against Derby (Image: Getty)

“I don’t think people understand what you go through when you’re injured and you don’t feel part of the team.

“And it was twice as hard because I had just joined and didn’t know anybody here.

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“It’s so frustrating when you’re sat there watching the lads train and you go to the games and you’re just sat there.

“Not only do you not feel involved, but I felt embarrassed at times because I’d joined a new team and wanted to go out there and play.

“Everybody must have been thinking `what we signed him for, he’s injured?’ Like I say, it was embarrassing, and as soon as I got back playing it was miles better and hopefully I’ve done well.”

Clucas says the dressing-room mood remains high at Stoke despite conceding so many equalisers and losing so many points in recent games.

Sam Clucas does battle with John McGinn at Villa Park last weekend (Image: EMPICS)

“It’s all right saying we are eight or nine unbeaten,” he oberved, “but we haven’t had enough victories in there. Even three wins and one defeat, we’d take that.

“It’s a positive because we are scoring goals, but we’re not seeing games out at the minute and we are conceding a bit too many.

“But everyone is full of optimism. Everyone is a bit gutted with how it ended on Saturday (2-2 at Aston Villa) because we were comfortable and deserved to win before conceding in the dying minutes again.